Trapper Mine Cleared For Operation By Federal Regulators

<p>(Courtesy <a href="http://www.craigdailypress.com/" target="_blank">The&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.craigdailypress.com/" target="_blank">Craig Daily Press</a>)</p>
<p>A backhoe dumps coal into a haul truck at Trapper Mine near Craig, Colo. The coal is taken to a crusher behind Craig Station, a coal-fired power plant, to begin the process of turning it into energy. </p>
Photo: Trapper Mine near Craig, Colorado
A backhoe dumps coal into a haul truck at Trapper Mine near Craig, Colo. The coal is taken to a crusher behind Craig Station, a coal-fired power plant, to begin the process of turning it into energy.

Federal regulators say allowing a northwestern Colorado coal mine to continue operating would have no significant impact on the environment.

An arm of the Interior Department released the preliminary finding regarding the Trapper Mine Monday after a federal judge ordered another environmental review because the original review didn't take a serious look at the impacts, including climate change.